WEBVTT FALLS A BIT SHORT WHEN ITCOMES TO WHERE OFFICERS LIVE,AND THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.DESPITE PUBLIC PUSHES TOINCREASE THE NUMBERS, THEBALTIMORE CITY POLICEDEPARTMENT'S SECOND ANNUALCOMMUNITY POLICING REPORT SHOWSFROM 2015 TO 2016, 73 FEWER BALTIMORE CITY POLICEOFFICERS ARE CITY RESIDENTS,EVEN THOUGH THE CITY NOW GIVESTHEM UP TO A $2500 TAX BREAK TOOWN A CITY HOME.ALSO DOWN IS THE NUMBER OFOFFICERS ON NEIGHBORHOODPATROLS, ABOUT 103 FEWER THAN2015.POLICE COMMISSIONER KEVIN DAVISSAYS THE PATROL ASSIGNMENTSOFTEN CHANGE AS OTHER NEEDSARISE IN THE VIOLENT CRIMESECTION.COMMISSIONER DAVIS: I'VE GOTTAMAKE SOME HARD CHOICES. THE-- I AM ALWAYS ROBBING PETER TOPAY PAUL IN THIS PROFESSION.THE FOCUS ON CLOSING CASES IS SOVERY, VERY IMPORTANT.GEORGE: AND THE COMMISSIONER ISENCOURAGED ABOUT FUTURE OFFICERSLIVING IN THE CITY COMMISSIONER DAVIS: THE MOSTRECENT ACADEMY CLASS THATGRADUATED, 42% CITY RESIDENCY.GEORGE: THE REPORT ALSO SHOWEDIMPROVEMENT IN TWO AREAS, 33 FEWER USE OF FORCE COMPLAINTSFROM CITIZENS AGAINST OFFICERS,AND 18 FEWER CASES OF OFFICERSBEING SUSPENDED.COMMISSIONER DAVIS: IT'S NEVERJUST ONE THING, RIGHT? BUT IWILL SAY THAT THE BODY-WORNCAMERAS HAVE BROUGHT A LEVEL OFCIVILITY TO POLICE AND CIVILIANENCOUNTERS. GEORGE: TWO YEARS AGO, THEGENERAL ASSEMBLY STARTEDREQUIRING CITY POLICE PRODUCETHIS REPORT.DELEGATE CURT ANDERSONCO-SPONSORED.MR. ANDERSON: THIS WILL GIVE USTHE TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO HELPTHE POLICE COME UP WITH A BETTERPOLICING STRATEGY FOR THE CITY,AND WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER.GEORGE: THE REPORT ALSO SHOWSTHE NUMBER OF SWORN OFFICERSYEAR TO YEAR IS DOWN BY 118, BUTTHE COMMISSIONER EXPECTS TO FILLTHOSE POSITIONS THIS YEAR.AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS, GEORGE

There were fewer officers working neighborhood patrols in Baltimore City in 2016 compared to the previous year, according to the Baltimore Police Department’s annual end-of year community policing report.

According to the report, as of Dec. 1, 999 of the 1,255 officers assigned to patrol division are assigned to sector patrol, representing 79.6 percent of the total number of officers assigned to the patrol bureau.

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The General Assembly started requiring city police to produce the report in 2015. Delegate Curt Anderson co-sponsored the move.

"This will give us the tools that we need to help the police come up with a better policing strategy for the city and we're all in it together," Anderson said.

This compares to 1,102 out of 1,271 officers, or 87 percent assigned to sector patrol as of Nov. 1, 2015, according to last year’s report.

The report also found there were 494, or 19.5 percent, of the police force that lived in Baltimore City. This compares with 567, or 21.4 percent, of the force in 2015.

These numbers come as the city is pushing for more community policing and for more of their officers to live in the city.

“A fundamental rule for effective community policing is having a visible and tangible presence in the community,” the report said. "Having uniformed officers on the street in the same neighborhoods makes the community feel safe while reinforcing mutual trust between police and ordinary citizens. In other words, assigned post officers and foot patrols are the bedrock of community policing."

From 2015 to 2016, 73 fewer Baltimore City police officers are city residents, even though the city now gives them up to a $2,500 tax break to own a city home.

The number of officers on neighborhood patrols has also declined, with 103 fewer than in 2015.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said the patrol assignments often change as other needs arise in the violent crime section.

"I've got to make some hard choices," Davis said. "The focus on closing cases is so very, very important."

The commissioner is encouraged about future officers living in the city.